The Burnham Effect

Over the past few days, we have been receiving a lot of enquiries about Andy Burnham. If he becomes the new Prime Minister, how will this affect our campaign? Can he be the man who will finally end the 74-year Nuclear test Veteran scandal?

Susie Boniface, Andy Burnham and Alan Owen at the Labour Party Conference 2025

Firstly, he has to win the by-election in Makerfield. He has now been confirmed as the candidate for the election, and he will be standing. Then, if he wins, he will need to fight a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer. There is still a lot to do and many unknowns.

Andy was pivotal in our joining Hillsborough Law Now, with Steve Rotheram. We were welcomed when we were fighting for a medal for the Veterans. Their support was incredible.

14th December 2021

The Hillsborough Law campaign has many campaigners, and we were welcomed in as part of the family. (https://hillsboroughlawnow.org/)

Steve Purse has represented the Nuclear Test Veterans and has attended many Hillsborough Law events over many years.

Steve Purse

We have maintained constant communication with Andy and his team; his support has never wavered. Anything to help our cause, attending events, writing letters, meeting MP's and campaigning for us. Taking time to speak on our behalf, many hours of help.

We can only speak from our experiences, and we firmly believe that Andy can make a difference. His work for people who have experienced major injustices has, in our opinion, been fantastic. He spoke at our Manchester conference in 2022; he didn't just attend for an hour and leave, he stayed for the day alongside Rebecca Long-Bailey. Speaking to Veterans, understanding their pain, listening to them.

We are lucky to have many MPs who have supported our campaign over many Years. Sir John Hayes, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Emma Lewell, Cameron Thomas, John McDonnell and Helen Maguire are just some of the people who have stood up and fought for us.

Unfortunately, Prime Ministers have not been so vocal. Only Boris Johnson took the time to speak to us when he was in office, listening to us and eventually awarding the NTV Medal.

Sir Keir Starmer was very supportive in opposition; he supported the medal campaign and was the first leader to meet with us. Alan has met with him since, but since promising to meet with us in 2025, the meeting has not happened. Lots of discussions about meetings, but no meeting has taken place. The urgency disappears when they are in office.

But does this feel different this time? Tony Blair promised the Nuclear Veterans a lot, but delivered nothing. Keir has so far delivered nothing. Whilst a lot of work and activity is happening within the OVA, Number 10 is not forcing the issue; the urgency seems to disappear.

Veterans will tell you it is because of the Ministry of Defence, a powerful establishment, with civil servants who advise the Ministers not to tackle the Nuclear Test Veterans scandal. There are many reasons for this, and everyone has their own opinion. Many veterans tell us that they are just waiting for them all to die, so that the compensation bill will be less.

We have been working hard with the Office for Veterans Affairs and the Minister for Veterans and People, meeting regularly with her. She is understanding, but she has limited resources; the OVA are a small team. The urgency needs to come from the top. We need a Prime Minister who is going to push the issue, force the issue and champion our cause.

The Secretary of State for Defence has been very supportive. John Healey has met with us regularly, commissioned the investigation into the medical records and has been instrumental in the release of the Merlin database, which has shown us that the UK Government knew a lot more than they were telling us. The Whistleblower report, released in March by the Minister for Veterans & People, has shown us that previous reports, relied on for War Pension Claims and at the ECHR, were incomplete and did not contain factual information.

We have the facts, we have the information, the reports are almost finished, yet there is no urgency to deliver them. If Andy Burnham were currently the Prime Minister, would this process be completed by now? Who knows, it is a hypothetical question, because he isn't the PM yet, and he may never be.

Our founder, Alan Owen, was asked the following questions.

Q - Would Andy Burnham as PM be a good thing for the Nuclear Veterans

A - Absolutely, in my experience, speaking with Andy, working with his team, he understands that governments lie, he understands that there are cover-ups, because it happened to him. He has a lot of experience as an MP, a cabinet minister and as a Mayor. It is a hard job, but the difference with Andy is that he listens and understands.

Q - Would Hillsborough Law already be on the Statute books if Andy were PM?

A - Definitely. It has already taken too long for the Hillsborough Law to become law. Some amazing campaigners have stood firm when changes were requested, negotiations and discussions taking place, but as with all Government processes, it is too slow and, in my view, is very disrespectful to all of the families affected. There is no way that Andy would have let it run this long. It needs a decisive leader to take charge of the situation. We do not have that at the moment.

Q - Do you think that Andy would just become another PM who lets down the Nuclear test Veterans?

A - I hoped Keir Starmer was the man; he gave us a promise, personal promises, but these have turned out to be false promises. I am told by his officials that he is engaged with the process, he wants the scandal to be ended, but words and no action are hollow. In my experience, and this is just my opinion, Andy follows up with action. Keir Starmer could pick up the telephone and speak to me now, but he chooses not to. He has the choice.

Q - It is easy to promise, but to deliver once in Office is different. Why would Andy be different?

A - I believe it is because of his experience as a cabinet minister and Hillsborough. He saw firsthand that the state institutions will do anything to protect reputations and they will lie. He has experienced it, listened to the families and most of all, understands the pain.

Q - Do you think he will succeed?

A - It is a difficult path he has chosen, and I applaud him for choosing this path. He didn't need to do this. He could just stay as Mayor and not put himself forward. There is a lot of press saying that he is doing it for himself, but I do not believe that. The world is full of people who want to make a difference. Sit with the Hillsborough campaigners, as I have, and you will see the determination, the desire for truth and justice. I wish him the best of luck and hope he succeeds in his goals.

Conclusion

We continue to work hard with the OVA and the Minister for Veterans and People on many issues. The Missing Medical Records report is due very soon, and an investigation into the Whistle Blower report is underway. Thames Valley Police are still investigating a misconduct in public office charge. We hope that these will be resolved before any leadership election and that the current Prime Minister takes charge and ends the 74-year scandal. This is his chance to establish a legacy before it is too late.

PMs come and go, since we founded LABRATS, we have seen 4 Prime Ministers and 3 Veterans Ministers come and go. Some supportive, others not so.

Whilst we watch the drama unfold, we will continue to work with whoever is in power and continue our great relationship with the Office for Veterans' Affairs, whose work has been substantial over the past 18 months. Whatever happens, whichever party is in power, whoever the Ministers are, we will continue to seek truth and justice.

Note: LABRATS is a non-political organisation; we do not represent any political party, we represent the Nuclear Community.